Similar

The fifth Annual Pezcoller Symposium entitled, Apoptosis, was held in Trento, Italy, June 9-1I, 1993 and was focused on the specific phenomena leading to Programmed Cell Death (PCD) or Apoptosis, and the mechanisms involved. With presentations at the cutting edge of progress and stimulating discussions, this Symposium addressed the genetics and molecular mechanisms determining PCD and the role of this suicidal process in cancer and the immune system. The functions of pS3, c myc and bel 2 in affecting apoptosis in different cell types and the role of ions and intracellular pH changes and that of intranuelear endonueleases are given particular emphasis as are the effects of anticancer agents, hormone imbalances and growth factors. The role of pS3, a tumor suppressor gene, in inducing PCD is discussed in detail as pertinent to hematological and non-hernatological tumors. The requirement of pS3 for the induction ofapoptosis by ionizing radiation or adenovirus oncoproteins is outlined. Decision points during the cell cyele affecting the cascade ofevents leading to PCD are discussed as is their role as "switches" under the control of c-myc and bel-2 proteins or the influence of cyele specific drugs. The concurrent requirement of multiple signals in determining apoptosis is emphasized. The examples of the role of PCD in the regulation of hematopoiesis, and in the generation of antigen-specific immune repertoire are illustrated.

Immunity, Cancer, and Chemotherapy focuses on the interference of drugs on antibody response and transplantation immunity. The selection first offers information on the effects of immunosuppressive drugs on cellular changes after antigenic stimulation and specialized cell function in the lymphoid and reticuloendothelial cell series. Topics include effects of immunosuppressive drugs on the sensitization process; cellular changes in lymphoid tissue following sensitization; and demonstration of differences in antigen handling among cells of the reticuloendothelial system. The text also takes a look at allogeneic inhibition and its possible relation to cell-bound immunity in vitro and the effects of immunosuppressive drugs at various stages of differentiation of immunologically competent cells. The publication examines a study of antibody-containing cells in the course of immunization and cellular differentiation during immune responses studied with electron microscope and radioautography. The text also elaborates on ambiguity in the translation of genetic code into proteins, induced by aminoglycoside antibiotics and immunosuppressive agents and cellular kinetics of immune response. The selection is a dependable source of information for readers interested in effects of drugs on antibody response and transplantation immunity.

The Fourth Annual Pezcoller Symposium entitled Adhesion Molecules: Cellular Recognition Mechanisms was held in Rovereto, Italy, June 24-26, 1992 and was focussed on the detailed mechanisms whereby cells utilize certain integral membrane proteins to perceive their surrounding environment and interact with it. With timely presentations and stimulating discussions this Symposium addressed the genetics and biochemistry of adhesion molecules, the regulation of their functions and their role in cancer and the immune system. Emphasis was given to adhesion proteins in the integrin family because of the widespread distribution of this group of molecules and its important role in essentially all eukaryotic biological systems. The regulation of integrin genes and their expression are discussed in detail, as are specific aspects of the genetics of fibronectin. The molecular basis for the regulation of certain integrins, the function of these proteins in determining cell adhesion, and the consequences of this adhesion for the function of the cells involved are discussed. The role of certain integrins in stimulating signal transduction, the essential involvement of integrins in conditioning the function of T and NK cells function, the heterogeneity of integrins and its biological consequences, and the role of cell adhesion molecules in tumor cells invasion and metastases are all extensively analyzed. New information was presented on the role of CD44 and splice variants in normal differentiation and tumor progression.

The Ninth Annual Pezcoller Symposium entitled "The Biology of Tumors" was held in Rovereto, Italy, June 4-7, 1997. It focused on the genetic mechanisms underlying het erogeneity of tumor cell populations and tumor cell differentiation, on interactions be tween tumor cells and cells of host defenses, and the mechanisms of angiogenesis. With presentations at the cutting edge of progress and stimulating discussions, this symposium addressed issues related to phenomena concerned with cell regulation and cell interactions as determined by activated genes through the appropriate and timely media tion of gene products. Important methodologies that would allow scientists to measure dif ferentially genes and gene products and thus validate many of the mechanisms of control currently proposed were considered, as were the molecular basis of tumor recognition by the immune system, interactions between cells and molecular mechanisms of cell regula tion as they are affected by or implemented through these interactions. The molecular and cellular mechanisms of tumor vascularization were also discussed. It was recognized that angiogenesis provides a potential site of therapeutic intervention and this makes it even more important to understand the mechanisms underlying it. We wish to thank the participants in the symposium for their substantial contribu tions and their participation in the spirited discussions that followed. We would also like to thank Drs.

Provided here is a comprehensive examination of the basic and clinical condition of three innovative and promising approaches to cancer therapy, which may support or even substitute chemotherapy: differentiation, immunomodulation, and inhibition of angiogenesis. Differentiation shouldnormalize neoplastic cells and make them compatible with the host. Its feasibility with retinoids, interferons, chemotherapeutic and other agents is discussed. Modulation by biological agents, cytotoxic effector cells and drugs is considered in attempts to boost endogenous antitumour defenses and/or to render neoplastic cells more susceptible to the immune attack of the host. Finally, the important aspect of interfering with tumour blood vessel development and function is taken into account. Consideringthe importance that chemotherapy has in cancer treatment and in view of a more and more integrated strategy, the relationship between the aforementioned approaches and chemotherapeutic agents and chemoresistance is treated in detail.

The series of volumes entitled Biological Responses in Cancer: Progress toward Potential Applications provides information on approaches through which the interaction between neoplastic and normal cells may be modified. Each annual volume contains contributions in areas where significant prog ress has been made. Topics to be dealt with include immunologic and host defense systems, control mechanisms of cell and population growth, cell differentiation, and cell transformation. The regulatory mechanisms controlling the interactions between normal and tumor cells may be immunologic in nature or they may relate to diverse biological characteristics of tumor and normal cells and their response to micro environmental factors. While the central question of tumor immunol ogy addresses the nature and uniqueness of tumor-associated antigens in humans, the identification of the stages of differentiation and functions of the various cell types involved in immunity is advancing rapidly. The de velopment of monoclonal antibody methodologies, together with progress in the biochemical characterization of cell markers, cell separation, and measurement of cell functions, has significantly aided in the identification and quantitation of different cell types. Establishing the role of these cells in the regulation of human immune mechanisms offers a means for evalu ating the status of the immune responses in cancer patients and for assessing the effects that tumor and antitumor treatments may exert on their func tionality, which, in turn, may alter the effects of antitumor treatments.